There is an almost bewildering but exciting profusion of fresh ideas in handbags. Among the fairly dressy afternoon bags of black suède one notices much ingenious draping and suching, with the bag's frame com-pietely covered with the leather. These bags are soft-looking but not bulky. Those who prefer extreme simplicity may like the absolutely plain snap-envelopes, with smooth, wide gold-metal frames on which to engrave initials or names. Most of this season's plain envelopes open wide, with the hinge set well below ihe middle of the bag. Many of them. are more than twice as wide as they are deep.
There are many stringy top handles. One big, square, flat bag of black suede has a long handle, which may be slung over your shoulder or twisted around your wrist. A gold-metal section of the handle resembles a bracelet when you do this. Some of the plain bags are set off with large scroll-work medallion monograms of gold metal.
Sportier bags run to neat, small, boxy affairs with lots of room inside. Some look like satchels, others like fancy versions of a plumber's tool kit. These bags all have convenient top handles. One group is made in Albany brown, a rich, not dark shade—and in vivid dark green. At one shop are to be found belts, gloves, clips and bracelets to match the bags. Shoes also are made in this new shade of brown,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.